The New York Yankees made a big splash in the offseason after missing out on the Juan Soto sweepstakes, with the trade for Devin Williams standing out as one of their most significant moves. The 30-year-old right-hander was brought in as the team’s closer following his strong run with the Milwaukee Brewers.
But Williams is going through the worst stretch of his career, struggling to adjust to New York. Because of that, the Yankees have decided to remove the two-time All-Star from the closer role after a rough first month of the 2025 season.
Devin Williams Reflects Upon Losing His Role As the Yankees Closer
On Sunday, the Yankees played a doubleheader against the Toronto Blue Jays after Saturday’s game was postponed due to bad weather. New York won 11-2 and 5-1 games to sweep the series.
The Yankees held a three-run lead in the eighth inning when right-hander Luke Weaver started warming up in the bullpen, making it clear Williams had been removed from the closer spot. A home run by backup catcher J.C. Escara later wiped out the save opportunity anyway.
“With the way things have gone recently, it’s not really a shock to me,” Williams told reporters after the Yankees swept the Blue Jays on Sunday. “Being a closer is a position you have to earn, and you have to keep earning it to continue to be in that role, so lately I haven’t been doing that.”
“It’s disappointing. You work for years to get to that point, and to have that taken away from you, it’s not a fun feeling at all. But I can’t say it’s undeserved.”
Williams was traded from the Brewers over the winter for left-handed starter Nestor Cortes Jr. and infield prospect Caleb Durbin. Despite being one of the top relievers in the MLB in recent years, he now has a 0-2 record through 10 appearances with an 11.25 ERA.
“For right now, I’m going to take him out of that role,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said in his presser ahead of the doubleheader. “I think it’s best for everyone that we pull him out of that role and just try and start building some good rhythm, confidence, and momentum, and fully expect him to be a central figure for us moving forward.”
“The good news for Devin is that he’s got everything to get through this and come out better on the other side, and that’s my expectation,” said Boone. “As you go through these things as a player, even when you are really good at this, it’s a struggle. I do believe at his core he knows he’s going to get through this.”
Williams will pitch in lower-pressure situations, while Weaver will continue to close. Weaver stepped into the role late last year after Clay Holmes lost it before the postseason. He hasn’t given up a run yet this season and struck out the side to finish off Sunday’s win.
